Menu

Police helicopter cutbacks could leave Preston seen as a safer place for criminals to operate

Posted on - 10th May, 2015 - 8:00am | Author - | Posted in - Crime, Lancashire Police, Preston News
NPAS Warton before they set off

The sun could be setting on police helicopter services operating from Warton

Cutbacks to the police helicopter coverage in Preston and Lancashire has seen councillors request their chief executive write to the Home Secretary to review the closure of air bases.

Advertisement

Preston is currently covered by the National Police Air Service from Warton and Barton – but a 23 per cent budget cut to the service will see Barton remain as the nearest while Warton closes.

Advertisements
Preston Weekender advert

Ribbleton councillor Brian Rollo raised a motion at April’s council meeting calling for Lorraine Norris, the chief exec of the city council, to write to the Home Secretary, Preston MPs and the Police and Crime Commissione for Lancashire Clive Grunshaw about concerns about the closure of Warton.

Cllr Rollo said in a motion which was backed by full council: “This will result in a sparse air policing service for the first time in over two decades and a greatly diminished loiter time for aircraft when they are deployed. That the effect on policing in Lancashire will be catastrophic.

“That additionally criminals from the areas of Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police forces will see Lancashire as a safer area to operate in and will transfer more of their activities up the motorways to Lancashire.”

Advertisements

The police helicopter at Warton can currently be scrambled to be anywhere in Lancashire within 15 minutes. Relying on Barton or potentially Hawsden in Cheshire or Wakefield in Yorkshire leaves Preston and surrounding areas with a 20 minute or more flying time.

Currently Warton is due to be closed sometime between April 2016 and April 2017.

What do you think about the proposed cut back to Warton? Do you agree with Cllr Rollo’s concerns? Let us know in the comments below

Share
Advertisements
caritas fostering advert
Preston in pictures Preston Bus 207 PO56 JDX (Scania N94UB / East Lancs Esteem)24.03.24 - Penwortham [Church of St Mary] 240323JPGDSC_7658 - Bus stationDSC_7676 - Miller ArcadeDSC_7681 - former Post Office, cenotaph and Town HallDSC_7682 - Central Methodist church, Lune StreetDSC_7668 - Fish (aka Box) MarketDSC_7672 - Miller Arcade View more Advertisement Subscribe to the newsletter

Sign up below to receive Blog Preston's email newsletter. It wings its way into inboxes every Sunday and Wednesday rounding up our top stories and more.

Advertisement News by location

Find news by location, select an area of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on.

The Preston Guide

Discover local businesses and services near you.

    Advertisements
Advertisement Categories

Find news by category, select an category of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on.

Blog Preston email updates

Receive our digest of the biggest and best stories every Sunday to your email inbox

We respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time from our emails